Capture of non-target flies (Diptera: Lauxaniidae, Chloropidae, Anthomyiidae) on traps baited with volatile chemicals in field crop habitats

Authors: Hesler, Louis

Submitted to: Psyche
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/2016
Publication Date: 8/15/2016
Citation: Hesler, L.S. 2016. Capture of non-target flies (Diptera: Lauxaniidae, Chloropidae, Anthomyiidae) on traps baited with volatile chemicals in field crop habitats. Psyche. doi:10.1155/2016/6938368.

Interpretive Summary: Chemical cues are important to the basic life history of insects in activities such as locating food, finding mates, and recognizing suitable habitat. Large bycatches of three kinds of flies were sometimes unexpectedly encountered in a study that was originally conducted to evaluate responsiveness of arthropod natural enemies to various volatile chemicals in field crops. Volatile chemicals increased trap catch of lauxaniid flies, grass flies, and seedcorn maggot flies in field crops. The compounds methyl salicylate and 2-phenylethanol increased trap catch of lauxaniid flies in corn. 2-phenylethanol attracted seedcorn maggot flies in spring wheat and soybean. Traps baited with 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine greatly increased catch of grass flies in corn and soybean. 2-phenylethanol had been identified previously as an attractant for seedcorn maggot flies, and thus this compound may be potentially useful in monitoring this pest species in field crops. The other two types of flies in this study are not considered economically important, but the discovery of their attraction to various volatile chemicals here study raises a rich set of questions that may be pursued in the future to improve understanding of their basic ecology.

Technical Abstract: Volatile chemicals increased trap catch of flies from the families Lauxaniidae [Homoneura bispina (Loew) and Camptoprosopella borealis Shewell], Chloropidae (Olcella sp.) and Anthomyiidae (Delia spp.) in field crops. With cotton rolls as dispensers, baiting with 2-phenylethanol increased catch of H. bispina in two corn plot tests, and methyl salicylate increased trap catch in one test. Traps baited with methyl salicylate increased the catch of C. borealis, unlike those baited with 2-phenylethanol. When using controlled-release dispensers, traps baited with methyl salicylate caught more H. bispina than ones baited with 2-phenylethanol, whereas traps baited with 2-phenylethanol caught more C. borealis than those with methyl salicylate. Traps baited with 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine greatly increased catch of Olcella flies in corn and soybean. Catch of male Delia flies in wheat increased with 2-phenylethanol on cotton rolls and with either 2-phenylethanol or methyl salicylate using controlled-release dispensers. In soybean, 2-phenylethanol formulated on cotton rolls or in controlled-release dispensers increased catch of male Delia flies, but methyl salicylate did not affect trap catch. Trap catch of female Delia flies did not vary among chemicals. In another test in soybean, trap catch of both male and female Delia flies was greater with 2-phenylethanol than with other volatile chemicals.